Visiting an experienced dental surgeon who specializes in full facial reconstruction is a whole journey in and of itself. From the evaluation to the actual procedure itself, it’s a whole ride, and the feeling of relief at the end of the operation is comparable to none. For children undergoing maxillofacial surgery, the journey doesn’t end with the operation. Often, the path to recovery involves a unique tool: a craniofacial prosthesis. These custom-made devices not only repair appearance, but also play a crucial role in the child’s quality of life. A doctor who deals in maxillofacial surgery for children will be able to help custom-make these prosthetics, which, when attached onto the face via specialized glue or implants, replaces crucial features on the face that may be missing due to facial trauma or birth defects.
The world of pediatric craniofacial prostheses can be a scary place – it’s invasive, mysterious, and unnatural. But it’s really the unknown that’s the scary thing; this sector of maxillofacial surgery for kids is holistic and restorative. Life-like prosthetics attached onto the face by a facial trauma surgeon do a world of good for anyone’s confidence and self-image, especially that of a child’s, and the best part is that it’s a relatively easy process to undergo. So, let’s unveil the not-too-mysterious details of craniofacial prostheses for children:
Types of Pediatric Orofacial Conditions
A craniofacial defect is a broad term for structural abnormalities in the mouth, face and head. These can be congenital (at birth) or acquired (develop from injury/illness). The features of each are different, and each occurs on a spectrum of severity, but all present significant threats to a child’s quality of life, development and psychological health.
We can all recall the early days of elementary school where if you looked a little different, you may as well have been walking around with a target on your back. We won’t sugarcoat things—craniofacial defects can be a huge burden on a child’s life as they grow up and be a large source of insecurity. Thankfully, with modern advancements in holistic maxillofacial surgery, prosthetics play a major role in easing the insecurity and anxiety over any current craniofacial defects. But what sorts of craniofacial defects are most often present?
These defects are uncommon in the general population, but the most-often treated pediatric craniofacial conditions include:
- Vascular malformations: Abnormal blood vessel growths causing disfigurement and potential functional issues.
- Syndromic conditions: Craniofacial features associated with broader genetic syndromes impacting other body systems.
- Hemifacial microsomia: Underdevelopment of facial structures on one side.
- Craniosynostosis: Premature fusion of skull bones, affecting brain growth and cranial shape.
- Cleft lip and palate: A separation in the lip and/or roof of the mouth, impacting speech, feeding, and facial appearance.
Types of Pediatric Craniofacial Prostheses
Prosthetics for children who suffer from craniofacial defects are almost like a very realistic mask that has been custom-tailored to match the rest of your face and your exact skin tone. They’re incredibly realistic, and they come in a wide variety of types, depending on what the prosthetics are attempting to replicate or fix. For example, an obturator, installed by an oral surgeon specializing in full-mouth reconstruction, is able to fix palate deformities and improve several areas of life.
Speaking with a local oral surgeon can give you a better idea of what type of prostheses is suitable for your child. Prosthetics can be used both after a visit to an affordable and holistic oral surgery provider to support the healing process, while others are more like the aforementioned masks which replace facial deformities.
There are generally two types of surgically-installed prostheses for children:
- Complementary prostheses: These assist in the healing process or support other treatments. For instance:
- Cranial prostheses: Protect the brain after skull surgery.
- Obturators: Close openings in the palate to improve speech and eating.
- Surgical stents: Maintain space for tissue growth after surgery.
- Tracheostomal prostheses: Facilitate speech and breathing after a tracheostomy.
- Restorative prostheses: These replace missing or malformed facial features. For instance:
- Auricular prostheses: Restore the ear after trauma or microtia (congenital small ear).
- Cleft lip and palate prostheses: Aid speech, feeding, and facial development in children with cleft conditions.
- Facial prostheses: Address larger areas of missing tissue due to tumors, burns, or other conditions.
- Nasal prostheses: Restore the nose after trauma, tumor removal, or congenital defects.
- Orbital prostheses: Replace missing or damaged eyes.
Benefits of Craniofacial Prostheses for Children
We really can’t overstate how helpful craniofacial prostheses are for children. It’s a relatively pain-free oral surgery that has innumerable benefits to children both physically and mentally.
There are several benefits to a treatment plan for craniofacial defects that includes a prosthesis/es:
- Quality of life: Prostheses can restore functions like speech, eating, breathing, and vision.
- Psychological well-being: Improved appearance and function contribute to a child’s emotional and social development.
- Preparation for surgery: Prosthetics can be used pre-operatively to plan and visualize surgical outcomes.
- Post-surgical support: Complementary prostheses aid healing, prevent complications, and improve surgical results.
- Aesthetics: Prostheses improve a child’s appearance, boosting self-confidence and reducing social stigmas associated with orofacial defects.
All in all, craniofacial prostheses have huge benefits to children who elect to visit a pediatric oral surgeon close to them. Growing up, social development is a huge, sometimes overlooked, area of development for children. Social stigmas are prevalent, especially in younger children and teens, leaving those affected by craniofacial defects to feel like they’re part of the outgroup. A compassionate, holistic oral surgeon can be exactly what they need to regain their confidence and self-esteem as well as fixing any present physical deformities.
Special Considerations in Pediatric Maxillofacial Surgery
In addition to the complex nature of congenital and acquired craniofacial defects in children is the complex nature of treating structural damage/deformities on a growing skeleton. Care must be completed in steps as the child develops; prostheses need to be adjustable; long-term relationships with oral and maxillofacial health providers are vital. The biggest difference separating adult and pediatric craniofacial prosthetics is that new prosthetics will need to be developed as a child grows and ages to match the rest of their features as they currently are. Finding a well-reviewed surgeon who specializes in oral operations and full facial reconstruction is the best first step in ensuring a solid relationship with a dedicated oral healthcare provider who will be able to custom tailor a child’s craniofacial prosthetics.
As well, all adults involved must be aware of the psychological impact a craniofacial prosthesis can have on a child, and ensure self-love and acceptance. Perhaps most important of all (in children who are old enough) is helping the child understand the purpose, timeline and intention of the treatment. Setting a child up with a pediatric oral surgeon who they like and trust is also key—as an expert, they can answer any lingering questions a child has, particularly as they grow up and begin to understand more about their condition.
Pediatric maxillofacial medicine saw dramatic developments in the 20th century, and that progress continues today. Children require patient, gentle care by an orofacial doctor who monitors their growth. With the right oral and maxillofacial surgeon who has the skill, specialization and qualified medical team, your child can have the quality of life they were meant to.
